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Bodyguards (護衛兵/護衛武将) are optional NPCs who can follow the player's character on the map. They were introduced to the series in Dynasty Warriors 2, featuring two NPCs initially and up to a maximum of eight as the player's rank increases. The third and fourth entries added new features, such as allowing the player to bring fewer or no bodyguards and change their names and weapon class. In Dynasty Warriors 5, players are limited to a single guard per battle, but can select between up to eight of them.

In the PSP version of Dynasty Warriors 4, the player could hire a maximum of four bodyguards to increase their own stats. The officers also provide skills that help inside or outside of battle, and may occasionally be activated during battle with a cool down period. In Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2, there are "combinations" between officers. Having a combination will give the player additional stat boosts.

The functionality of bodyguards in Dynasty Warriors 7 was replaced with character bonds in Conquest Mode. Dynasty Warriors 8 allows players to bring another playable officer along as a bodyguard, with Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends increasing the amount to three. These characters also have special commands and passive effects that can be used in battle.

Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends[]

See also: Bodyguards (Dynasty Warriors)/Weapons

Dynasty Warriors 4[]

These are the default group and guard names.

ROTK[]

Koei[]

Mystery[]

  • Kevin
  • Arnold
  • Clint
  • Forest
  • Nicolas
  • Liam
  • Vigo
  • Toshiro

Kessen[]

Dynasty Warriors 5[]

Customization[]

In Dynasty Warriors 3, bodyguards are a single, nameless group of soldiers who follow the player and limited to five weapon types: Sword, Spear, Pike, Bow and Crossbow. Players are also given the option to leave these guards to focus on either attack or defense. The player will start with two peons and but can have up to eight elite bodyguards. Playable characters can be assigned to be the player's bodyguard as well.

In its Xtreme Legends expansion, the bodyguard system is overhauled to give players four named and different customizable groups of bodyguards. Players could edit for each group their weapon type, growth rate (Balanced, Life/Musou, Attack, Defense, or Custom) and the color of their uniforms (Normal, Blue, Red, Green, or Purple). Bodyguards are also given two additional commands to either Shield or Support the player.

Dynasty Warriors 4 allowed players to completely customize their bodyguards' group titles and the individual guard names. Bodyguard edits are expanded to include different model types to choose from: Normal, Nanman and Yellow Turban for both genders. Growth and command options are removed and two new colors are added (Yellow and White) with the ability to let the uniform colors change automatically depending upon the player's faction.

Additionally, other playable characters in Dynasty Warriors 4 can on occasion appear as individual bodyguards for the player in battle depending on hidden relationship values. These characters, signified by a bright glow, start with six stars of morale and follow the player around. They can appear in both Free and Musou Mode. Multiple factors in having them appear are the character's positive relationship with the player's character, the character not being present in the stage initially, the player's life falling below half, allied morale being at less than half, fewer than 10 allied officers remaining, and over 15 minutes passing. Officer relationships can be modified by helping them when they are struggling, or defeating them in duels. Relationship values are saved between stages, meaning repeatedly defeating an officer in Free Mode can affect relationships. Inversely, warriors can sometimes appear for enemy forces following the same mechanics.

Bodyguards are revamped again in Dynasty Warriors 5 to remove most of the former customization features. Instead, players are given a total of eight guards to hold in reserve of which only one is allowed to accompany the player on the field. Bodyguards are one of six possible weapon types: Spear, Sword, Crossbow, Bow, Staff, and Fan. New bodyguards can be earned after completing a battle and presented to the player by Sima Hui. They are given the option to accept the new guard or discard them in favor of keeping their old guards. Customization is limited to the color of their uniforms which is dependent upon the faction of the character the player used to complete the stage. Costume parts and bodyguard names randomly generated. As bodyguards level, they can eventually have their own element similar to the player.

Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends allows the player to use any three officers or playable characters they wish from the ones unlocked in Ambition Mode. Any officer personally defeated by the player in battle will join as an ally; a total of 816 officers can be earned in battle or from the Barracks. Bodyguards can be ordered via the Command Bodyguard option to Guard the player, Mobilize to attack nearby foes while heading towards the main enemy general, Secure a maximum of three different locations or use their unique Battle Skill. Each Battle Skill, such as fire attack or gather supplies, can be increased in levels to allot more uses of it. Battle Skills are increased with the Strengthen Bodyguards option by sacrificing gained allies to train the chosen officer. These released allies need to be regained again in Ambition Mode. Battle Skills have a chance to fail or not initiate if the player character's bond with the officer using the skill is too low.

Bodyguards also provide passive buffs to the player via their Support Skill. Each officer has a maximum of two Support Skills, the second skill is unlocked once the player has maximized their bond with the officer. Players can only raise bonds in Ambition Mode by bringing the officer with them into battle as a bodyguard or as a part of their departing unit to conquer a region; the officer needs to accompany the player in ten battles to optimize bonds. With the playable cast, the player needs to additionally view all three of the character's conversation events before the second skill is unlocked. These second skills are also only available based on the gender of the character the player used to level bonds. Players need to maximize bonds using both a male and female playable character. Officers have an associated Fee parameter; Fees dictate which officers the player can choose based on their playable character's Leadership level. Leadership is leveled in battle by manually giving bodyguards orders; Leadership levels max at 99 which increases the player's Fee limit to 99.

Generally, any healing items picked up by the player will also heal bodyguards. In Dynasty Warriors 5 and Dynasty Warriors 8, standing near a bodyguard with a full musou gauge allows a Double Musou Attack, functioning the same as with two players. A similar feat can also be performed with character bodyguards in Dynasty Warriors 4.

See also[]

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